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Cited by 1Maternal and Perinatal Health InterventionsMaternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and PostpartumMaternal and fetal healthcare

The birth trauma earthquake: A qualitative investigation of first-time mothers who perceived their birth as traumatic

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Bailey, Emma C., Barry, Zenab, Buabeng, Rachael, Fellows, Rebecca E., Khazaezadeh, Nina, Rajasingam, Daghni, Silverio, Sergio A., Sheen, Kayleigh S.·2026·Women and Birth
DOI 10.1016/j.wombi.2026.102171
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Abstract

PROBLEM: Pregnancies can be anxiety-provoking, and birth which includes complications or deviations from expectations can be perceived as traumatic. BACKGROUND: The perception of birth as traumatic is inherently subjective and the salience of aspects contributing to the perception of birth trauma amongst first-time mothers may differ. Further, risk factors have not included the voices of women from minority ethnic backgrounds, who are known to experience higher-levels of discrimination whilst in receipt of healthcare. AIM: To contribute to the understanding of experiences of birth which are perceived as traumatic by women. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews (N = 16) were undertaken in May-June 2024 with mothers who had perceived their first birth to be traumatic; and analysed using Grounded Theory. FINDINGS: 'The Birth Trauma Earthquake' theory was comprised of six themes: 'Morbid Fixations'; 'Grieving the Birth They Never Had'; 'Changing Relationships'; 'The 'Hysterical' Labouring Woman'; 'Transactional Care'; and 'Diminishing Their Own Experiences'. DISCUSSION: Perceiving birth as traumatic was seen as a catalyst for rippling after-effects, with widespread impact both personally, and in their experience of healthcare professionals. Women were observed to have engaged in what may be perceived as maladaptive coping strategies to contain and control the associated shockwaves. CONCLUSION: Maternity care should be comprehensive and compassionate, fostering resilience in the aftermath of the earthquake, but more importantly prepare and reduce the propensity for it. These findings provide an insight into the lived experience of those who have perceived birth to be traumatic, with implications for informing future methods to prevent and mitigate associated impacts.

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  1. Crotty, 1998, The foundations of social research: meaning and perspective in the research process, Found. Soc. Res., 1

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Authors
Bailey, E. C., Barry, Z., Buabeng, R., Fellows, R. E., Khazaezadeh, N., Rajasingam, D., Silverio, S. A., & Sheen, K. S.
Affiliations
  • King's College London (GB)
  • Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
  • University of Liverpool (GB)
  • University of the West of England (GB)
Corresponding author
Silverio, Sergio A.
ORCID
Venue
Women and Birth
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2026-04
Volume
39
Issue
2
Pages
102171
ISSN
1871-5192 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.wombi.2026.102171
OpenAlex
W7127591413
Semantic Scholar
d954db4ebf5aa58d8e352a94d170655bb6e46fa7
Cited by
0
References
38
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Women and Birth (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • UWE Research Repository (UWE Bristol) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
King's College London
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Maternal and fetal healthcare
Keywords
birth trauma, primiparous women, childbirth experience, maternal mental health, maternal-fetal relationship, ethnic minority women, health care discrimination, coping strategies, obstetric care, lived experience
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Female, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Mothers, Pregnancy, Qualitative Research, Parturition, Earthquakes

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